Folding washbench and clamp.



N0. 807,696.y PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. W. THORNTON.

FOLDING WASHBENCH AND CLAMP.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904,

UNITED sTATEs 'PATENT onirica.

FOLDING WASHBENCH AND CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed August 29, 1904. Serial No 222,666.

1'0 LM w/wm, iv' may concern.-

'Be it known that I, WILLIAM THORNTON, of Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Washbenches and Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in folding washbenches and clamps. It has for its object to provide for the readyand effective locking in position of the parts when extended and the folding of the same with equal facility and compactness; and to these ends the invention consists ofthe peculiarity of the construction of the locking device for the braces of the bench-legs Aand the general combination and arrangement of the parts substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as applied for use. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with the parts folded. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged views showing more particularly the legbrace-locking device.

In carrying out my invention l construct the washbench Ain sections, the two folding sections A A being hinged to the middle stationary section A2 and the legs a of the sections A' A also being hinged in position.

B B are the braces, preferably flat or rectangular in cross-section for connecting the legs a a of the hinged or folding sections A A to the stationary center portion A2, these braces having their outer ends pivoted to bars Y or pieces secured to said legs a, and their inner ends pivoted at b2 to bars b b', fastened at b3 to said central stationary portions A2. This arrangement permits the ready and secure bracing of the parts when extended for use and the folding of the same when out of use, the braces always being in position when needed and requiring no manipulation tobring them into operative position.

O is the locking device for the braces consisting of a lixed plate or brace C', secured to the stationary section A2 of the bench and having an outward projection c at its lower end, a similar plate O2 opposite to said plate C and pivoted at. its upper end, as at 0X, to the upper end of the latter and having at its lower end an inward projection O' and a camlever C, bearing in the plate C/z. The plate C2 is much longer, however, than the plate O' and is capable of a limited vertical movement upon its pivots 0X to permit its lower end projection c to be moved toward the corresponding projection c of the plate O. Said plate O2 is also capable of being swung outward away from the plate C to permit the inner ends of the braces B to assume a horizontal position and lap the bars b', which they do when the legs a, with the sections A@ are lowered into position for use. The ends of the braces are then in position to be engaged by the projections c c' of the plates C O2, respectively. With the said parts in the position just described the plate (J2 is released, so as to swing to its formerposition, bringing its projection c' below the innerl ends of the braces B, also below the bars Z2' and in alinement with the projection c of the plate O. By turning' the lever C3 in the required direction its cam c2 will bear upon the projection c of the plate O, and thus move the plate O2 upward a limited extent, bringing the projection c' of the latter forcibly` against the under side of the inner ends of the braces and forcing the braces against the projection c, thus effectively locking the braces in position, together with the sections A and their legs a. It will also be observed that by reason of. the aforesaid. construction and arrangement of parts the braces B can be elevated with the folding of the bench-section at right angles to the bars secured to the stationary part of the bench, and the legs a are in such position when folded that they will fall by their own weight when the hooks holding themin folded position are unhooked from the legs.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1. In a washbench, the combination with a stationary central portion folding sections pivoted at their inner ends thereto, and legs pivotally attached to said folding sections, of fixed arms projecting laterally in opposite directions from said stationary central portion,

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pivoted to said folding sections, of fixed arms projecting in opposite directions from said stationary central portion, braces pivotally connected with the legs and having pivotal connection at points removed outwardly from their inner ends, with said iixed arms, and a locking device on the stationary central portion in position to receive and lock the inner ends of said braces.

3. Ina washbench, the combination with the leg-braces, of the locking device having one part fixed to said bench and its lower end provided with an outward projection, a second part pivoted to said xed part and provided with an inward projection at its lower end, and

a cam-lever hung in said pivoted part and hav ing its cam portion adapted to bear on the projection of the first-named part, said fixed and pivoted parts having at their lower ends oppositely-extending projections adapted to receive the inner ends of said braces between them, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof 1 have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

wiLLiAM THoRNToN Witnesses:

GEO. 4E. MATTICE, O. R. LOWRY. 

